New York, New York

Sunday we took Annie down to New York.  We thought it was going to be an uneventful trip to drop her off, but, shortly before we left, we heard from Peter and Sean that Johanna was in the hospital.  She had called 911 with symptoms much like she had when she had the intestinal blockage 5-6 years ago.  The doctors have been stumped and as of this writing were ordering more tests.  Peter and Janet were in Seattle, and we kept them apprised as they were figuring out how and if to get back.  Sean has been a real trooper, staying at the hospital, and Annie's now with him. 

Annie's starting today at a campus work-study job, even though her classes don't begin for a few more weeks.  So, before school starts, she will be staying at Johanna's, on her couch. (Thanks Johanna!)  Then she'll move up town when her grad school housing opens up.  Oh to be young again.  

Johanna has started a new job at an architectural firm not too far from her apartment.  Sean's been busy himself this summer doing a legal internship in New Jersey.

It ends a nice, long visit here at the old homestead.  She had a few friends here in the last few weeks.  Joe came up for a week, by train.  Margaret and Andrew drove up for a long weekend, and we celebrated Mary's birthday in grand style.  We met Andrew's parents, and his mother's birthday was the day before Mary's so it was a double celebration.  Triple, counting the big engagement.  Lots of champagne.  

Lots of activities - Andrew and his father played golf with Johnny, Andrew's mother joined the Dickson girls for a tour of Stockbridge and the Rockwell Museum - they're having an exhibition of the drawings of the Disney movie, Snow White.  We took a pontoon boat out on the lake; there was swimming, and canoeing.  And shopping.  We went to a wonderful play called The Chosen, based on the novel by Chaim Potok.  A very nice week.

Joe didn't waste much time back in DC before taking off again, to a place I don't think any Dickson has ever been to yet.  He is in Manila for three weeks, having left on Sunday.  

You may have seen the pictures of Hillary and Barack a week ago, when the two met for lunch at the White House.  The story didn't mention that she also met Margaret, at a Fulbright event later that same day!  

We've been continuing our Melville summer here (and you get read my blog - http://timecapsulepilot.wordpress.com/summer-with-herman-melville/.  I have to watch that it doesn't become an obsession.)  Anyway, Sunday, Mary and I joined a group of hikers to climb Monument Mountain, repeating the walk that Melville took in 1850, where he met Nathaniel Hawthorne.  We didn't meet Hawthorne, but we met some interesting, unique folks and had great exchanges up and down the mountain.  At the top we had a champagne toast.  It was a clear day and we could see for miles all around.

A couple of recommendations to put on your movie list:  20 Feet from Stardom (about back-up singers for pop and rock groups) and Searching for Sugarman (about an American folk singer enormously popular, but only in South Africa and he never knew it.)

So that's pretty much it from up here.  Hope everyone is enjoying the summer.

Love, and a prayer for Johanna.